Apple strikes deal with Sony for cloud music service, report claims

Apple has now reportedly signed three of four major U.S. record labels as it prepares to launch a new cloud-based streaming music service in the near future. According to Bloomberg, Apple has inked a deal with Sony that will allow the label’s massive catalog to be used alongside a forthcoming streaming product Apple will likely unveil next month. The news comes just one day after Apple is said to have finalized a similar deal with EMI. Google recently unveiled its Music Beta by Google service and before that, Amazon launched its Cloud Drive and Cloud Player products. Neither service is accompanied by deals with record labels, however, so their utility is reduced to providing users with a means to upload music they have purchased elsewhere and then stream it to a variety of devices. With the support of major labels, Apple will be able to introduce a paid service with a great deal of added functionality. “Streaming iTunes” has been rumored to be in development for years, and it looks like Apple is finally ready to make it a reality.

I’m sure apple will screw that up too. Like they do everything they touch!

Anonymous

Whatever. . . I’m all over the Android bandwagon but I always keep an eye on Apple to see what’s next. I honestly am really looking forward to seeing how they pull this off. And compare it to what Google was trying to do(and didn’t get done).

Anonymous

FYI, you should never reply to Goofan, Norm, PAPINYC, macboy15 and a couple of other people that I can’t think of right now. They’re the ubertroll brigade.

Anonymous

Hey asshole you forgot me. My comments are just as witty as Norm or Goofan

Kyle

Things just keep getting better for ol Apple… at least they did it the LEGAL WAY this time…
Bravo.

xxdesmus

uh … Amazon’s and Google’s offerings are both perfectly legal. You have to bring your own MP3s. That’s perfectly legal.

I’m sick and tired of this presumption of guilt on the part of misinformed idiots.They assume that unless the music labels pat you on the head and tell you that they approve it must be illegal. Get a clue.

Kumar

Steve Jobs could kill Jesus, Moses and The Dalai Lama, and Apple fanboys would just reason it away as the one true God smiting all false idols.

In this case, some record labels were offering terms that neither Google nor Amazon were willing to agree to, Google hinted it had to do with pricing for consumers. Now, Apple is signing deals with these same labels, and since we’re presuming guilt anyway, probably on terms that will just rape consumers’ wallets. Yet, Apple fanboys are giddy over the prospect of a mass gang rape. Hell, all Steve Jobs has to do is say, open your butt cheeks, and most of them would likely do it, with a smile on their face.

xxdesmus

a smile and at least $200 for the privilege.

Anonymous

Didn’t you know Apple fan boys love it in the pooper? Hey I just realized something, Apple fan girls must love taking it in the ass too. Someone point me to an Apple fan girl I have some doggy style butt sexing to perform :)

Anonymous

Google services are perfectly legal??? Yet the record labels have pursued legal action against similar services that google has. huh

xxdesmus

Just because the record labels have gone after similar services doesn’t make them illegal. They’re only illegal when a judge says so (and in some cases these judges don’t even understand the technology they are ruling on).

The record labels have a very strange sense of reality regarding what is and is not illegal. They’re just making shit up as they go at this point in an attempt to preserve a dying model.

Senor Chang

You’re failing to identify the true villain which are the RECORD LABELS. What’s sad here is that Apple saw what happened w/ google and Amazon and rather than joined the good fight over fair use, pulled out their wallet and made a deal.

The labels want you to pay for your music 3, 4, 5 times over… they are thieving bastards is what they are.

However, in this specific instance, it really sounds more like Apple is going the Zune Pass route, not necessarily just another ‘cloud storage’ option. For that, I can see why an agreement is needed.

Still doesn’t make Sony any less idiotic for going after Amazon’s cloud locker.

Kyle

settle down guy its not that serious… I like google and amazon geez… just not for my music…

Perdy

What’s illegal about cloud storage of my own files?

If I purchased website space from a hosting provider and uploaded my files there to create my own digital locker… how is that any different, and how is that illegal precisely?

xxdesmus

gee — thanks for telling about every single step along the way.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GP2WYAHXS6CRUREISWBGPUSUGE Michael

I wonder if all the music companies will throw a fit with this like they did with Google.

-Doubtful

but i’ll still enjoy my Google Music.

http://twitter.com/kateomaz Kate O’Malley

Who needs this when you have Guvera.

Anonymous

“Streaming iTunes”? Oh, yeah, that sounds appealing… because I have had so many good experiences with iTunes (sarcasm). The last thing I want on any of my devices is streaming iTunes.